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Description
New technologies could assist the Greek law enforcement authorities in combating crime. However, the use of such technologies shall be in full compliance with the applicable European legislation and case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), so that the Fundamental Rights of Privacy and Data Protection are respected. Greece has not implemented the provisions of the Directive 2016/680, which deals with the processing of personal data by law enforcement authorities, one year and one month after the respective deadline. Moreover, Greece has not reformed its legislation on the retention of electronic communication metadata (Law 3917/2011) according to the CJEU’s rulings, even though such a related legislative Committee exists for 5 years now (Ministerial Decision 57148/8.7.2014).
There is an urgent need to upgrade the current Greek legal framework so that it meets the high standards provided for in the European law and the CJEU’s caselaw. The goal of this project is to push the national authorities towards the national implementation of the Directive 2016/680 and the reform of the Law 3917/2011. In order to accomplish such a goal, a campaign will take place which will raise awareness amongst key stakeholders, put pressure on the shoulders of the legislative authorities, promote accountability of law enforcement authorities during the processing of people’s personal data, and enhance our role as a watchdog for the promotion and protection of human rights in the digital age. All the individuals living in Greece will be benefited for such an action. However, often communities of Roma and of immigrants are at the center of attention of Law Enforcement Authorities, thus they are even more in danger of human rights’ violations. Our role is to successfully organize and run the campaign.
Summary of project results
The project addressed the urgent need for safeguarding human rights during the use of new technologies by police authorities in Greece. It highlighted the lack of a sufficient legal framework to protect privacy and security, raising awareness among citizens and activating key stakeholders to advocate for improvements. The project aimed to renew and enhance legal protections, ensuring that the use of technology by police respects human rights, including data protection and privacy.
The project’s main event, "Technology-led Policing: Between Privacy and Security," gathered key stakeholders for the first time since 2014 to discuss human rights issues related to police technology use. Despite COVID-19 restrictions, the event was live-streamed and watched by over 1,000 citizens, and it remains accessible on YouTube. The discussion involved representatives from the Ministry of Digital Governance, the Data Protection Authority, judiciary members, civil society representatives, academics, and journalists, with all parties agreeing on the urgent need for a new legal framework.
The project successfully brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, legal authorities, academics, and civil society members, to address the need for improved human rights protections in policing technologies. The event stimulated ongoing dialogue on legal reforms, with strong interest from the Greek Police, even though they did not participate in the event. Additionally, the project engaged over 1,000 citizens during the live stream, with continued viewership on YouTube, helping to raise public awareness on privacy and security issues.